The sermon then focused on Jacob, known for his infamous scar. Jacob, a trickster, deceived his brother Esau and father Isaac to claim the firstborn inheritance. For twenty years, Jacob fled from Esau, who sought to kill him. God eventually directed Jacob to return home, where he wrestled with God and was left with a permanent limp. This event marked a transformation as God renamed him Israel.

Pastor Tom illustrated the power of scars through the story of Jill Taylor, a neuroscientist who suffered a stroke in the 90s. After her recovery, she wrote a book to help others with trauma and strokes. Her TED talk went viral, leading to widespread influence and support for stroke survivors.

In John 20, Jesus showed His followers His scars, reminding us that because of Jesus’ scars, we can face our own. Pastor Tom concluded that scars should not be hidden but shared to help others avoid similar mistakes and find strength in their own healing journey.

Genesis 32:31
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

John 20:19-20
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.